GPS 360
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO 101925Z SEP 79
PRIORITY GOVERNOR HONG KONG.
EGRAM NUMBER 716 OF 10 SEPTEMBER
YOUR TELNO 1258. NATIONALITY LAW
PA
8.3
HKK340
4011, 22 11/9.
1 THERE ARE, OF COURSE, SIZEABLE EXPATRIATE COMMUNITIES IN MAN COUNTRIES, FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH, AND INTEREST IN THE OUTCOME OF THE ISSUE IS NOT LIMITED TO DEPENDENT TERRITORIES. WE ARE VERY CONSCIOUS OF THE POSITION OF THESE PEOPLE. THE PROPOSAL TO LIMIT CITIZENSHIP TO ONE GENERATION ONLY BORN OVERSEAS, EXCEPT FOR THE CHILDREN OF CROWN SERVANTS, IS CONTROVERSIAL BUT IS INTENDED BY THE HOME OFFICE TO PREVENT THE TRANSMISSION OF CITIZENSHIP IN PERPETUITY IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES (BY VIRTUE OF CONSULAR REGISTRATION) AND TO BRING IT IN LINE WITH THE CURRENT PRACTICE FOR BIRTHS OCCURRING IN COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES. PARAMOUNT IN THEIR THINKING IS THE NEED TO LIMIT IMMIGRATION COMMITMENT. 2. THE PROPOSAL TO PERMIT TRANSMISSION THROUGH THE FEMALE LINE WOULD BENEFIT SOME FAMILIES AND THE HOME OFFICE ARE CONSIDERING THE INTRODUCTION OF AN ENTITLEMENT TO REGISTRATION FOR A CHILD BORN OVERSEAS TO PARENTS, BOTH OF WHOM ARE BRITISH CITIZENS BY DESCENT, AFTER HE AND HIS PARENTS HAVE RESETTLED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM FOR 3 YEARS. ANY SUCH CHILD BORN IN A DEPENDENT TERRITORY WOULD, OF COURSE, BE A QUOTE COLONIAL UNQUOTE CITIZEN (WHATEVER TERMINOLOGY IS AGREED) BY BIRTH AND UNDER THE PRESENT PROPOSALS WOULD BE ABLE TO TRANSMIT THAT CITIZENSHIP FOR ONE GENERATION. CONSIDERATION IS ALSO BEING GIVEN TO PROVISION WHEREBY A BRITISH CITIZEN BORN OVERSEAS WOULD BE ABLE TO UPGRADE HIS STATUS TO THAT OF CITIZEN BY BIRTH AFTER CERTAIN RESIDENCE IN THE UK AND POSSIBLY SUBJECT TO OTHER CONDITIONS. BUT THERE IS NO REPEAT NO PROPOSAL TO ALLOW THE CONTUNUED TRANSMISSION OF BRITISH CITIZENSHIP THROUGH GENERATIONS BY FAMILIES SETTLED OVERSEAS.
3. ALTHOUGH THE ABOVE REPRESENTS THE HOME OFFICE THINKING ON THE SUBJECT, THEY ARE PROPOSALS ONLY AT THIS STAGE AND IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THERE WILL BE SOME CHANGES BEFORE A BILL IS PRESENTED TO PARLIAMENT.
4. THE ABOVE IS FOR YOUR OWN INFORMATION ONLY. ANY PUBLIC DISCUSSION SHOULD BE RESTRICTED TO THE PROPOSALS IN THE GREEN PAPER.
CARRINGTON
FILES NTD
HKOG D
MR FIGG MR MURRAY
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CONFIDENTIAL
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